Footy star Jacin Sinclair died after Facebook hounding

FORMER NRL star Jacin Sinclair was a victim of extreme cyber bullying including hate-filled messages urging him to &quot;die&quot; before he was found dead.

BRUCE MCDOUGALL

DailyTelegraphAugust 31, 201211:01am

Former NRL star Jacin Sinclair played with Balmain, South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters during the 1990sSource:The Daily Telegraph

FORMER NRL star Jacin Sinclair was a victim of extreme cyber bullying including hate-filled messages urging him to &quot;die&quot; before his body was found inside his Sydney apartment almost two years ago.

Sinclair, who played 80 first grade games for Balmain, Souths and the Roosters, was told "die you dog c ... " on the Facebook site used by his teenage children.

Another post directed at the talented player stated that "he will be suicidal by the time I'm finished with him", Sinclair's father Alan revealed yesterday.

"These people got their wish and my son passed away in December, 2010 at the age of 38," Mr Sinclair said.

The footballer was found dead inside his Woolwich unit in Sydney's north on December 9, 2010 after he had not been seen for several days. His father said the cause was inconclusive but he believed his son overdosed on pain killers, anti-depressants and other tablets.

Mr Sinclair, who is safety, training and compliance manager with Menzies Aviation, congratulated television presenter Charlotte Dawson for confronting a cyber abuser who had urged her to "go hang yourself".

The still grieving dad told her: "As you said, 'when someone is vulnerable ... it doesn't take much to make them feel more fragile and a failure."

"If your actions in tracking down, naming and shaming the culprit discourages just one person from this cowardly behaviour and in turn saves a life ... thank you."

Mr Sinclair said Ms Dawson had displayed courage in making her stand: "The Charlotte Dawsons of this world are just what we need - someone to set an example and say 'this isn't right and I'm going to name and shame you'," he said.